Here Are The Nissan Quest Years To Avoid
Photo by Tigran Hambardzumyan on Unsplash
The Nissan Quest was a minivan that was produced and sold by Nissan for four generations, from 1993 to 2017. Nissan discontinued the Quest after the 2017 model year due to a downturn in minivan sales in North America and opted for more focus on SUVs. It was a fairly popular vehicle when it was in production but poor safety ratings in the last years of production led to its cancellation. Although it was fairly popular, here are the Nissan Quest years to avoid.
According to carcomplaints.com, these are the number of recorded complaints by model year.
- 1994: 3
- 1995: 3
- 1996: 2
- 1997: 1
- 1998: 2
- 1999: 6
- 2000: 6
- 2001: 5
- 2002: 6
- 2003: 3
- 2004: 130
- 2005: 42
- 2006: 51
- 2007: 89
- 2008: 8
- 2009: 7
- 2010: 1
- 2011: 20
- 2012: 38
- 2013: 6
- 2014: 7
- 2015: 3
- 2016: 4
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE NISSAN QUEST
One minivan to consider is the Nissan Quest, discontinued last decade. Let’s expand on this by identifying the most reliable Nissan Quest years.
Nissan Quest years to avoid: 2004-2009
With the instrument cluster in the middle of the dash, it’s difficult to read the gauges, warning lights, and displays. A loud climate-control system and dark, difficult-to-find power-mirror controls are among the other issues. The four models with the most overall customer complaints take place during this timeframe. Besides a few outliers, the most significant recalls and day-to-day complaints come from these production years.
Nissan Quest years to avoid: Pre-2002
The Quest was a well-equipped alternative to bigger cars in the past. A 3.0-liter V6 engine powered the first versions. The cabin is quiet, and the ride and handling are car-like. A 3.3-liter V6 engine was added in 1999, along with more space and a second sliding door. The Quest’s attractiveness is limited by poor crash-test results, imprecise handling, and just acceptable braking.
Just like many other models available on the used car market, the farther back you go the less modern features it has. Some may prefer the more simplistic models, but for a relatively similar price, the new options are more reliable and modern.
What are the good model years?
For the 2011 model year, a brand-new Quest was unveiled after a one-year delay. It has an exceptional amount of space and luxury, as well as a quiet and comfortable interior and a smooth and compliant ride. The handling is good, but not very sporty. Although both back rows fold down to create a flush cargo floor, this version of the Quest only seats seven people.
The last generation until 2017 featured large doors, a short step-in, and a flat floor making access simple. The sliding side doors’ windows may be lowered, which is unusual for minivans. Anti Lock brakes with brake assist, traction control, and electronic stability control are all standard safety features, along with blind-spot monitoring that would soon become standard on other Nissan models.
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Nissan Quest years to avoid: 2004
- 4 total recalls
- 4 NHTSA investigations
- 129 Technical Service Bulletins
Common customer complaints from the 2004 model year according to Car Complaints
- Engine
- Transmission
- General brake problems
- Electrical system failure
- Interior accessories
- HVAC system
- Wheels and hub connections
- Cooling system
- Exhaust
- Seats and airbags
- Windows and windshields
- Suspension
- Drivetrain
- Steering
Recalls:
- Faulty folding seats
- Seat adjustment mechanism
- Power sliding doors
- Airbag sensors
Third-row seat recall
The striker might dislodge from the mounting bracket if the third-row seat striker weld breaks.
It wasn’t the biggest issue for the year but still impacted over 30,000 vehicles.
Seat adjustment recall
When the operator tries to adjust the seat, a finger might get pinched in the moving seat adjustment mechanism, resulting in damage. This was a major pain point for drivers, with over 100,000 vehicles affected by the recall.
Power sliding doors recall
When the vehicle accelerates quickly, the door may open abruptly, causing an occupant to tumble out and be hurt. Obviously a major safety concern, this affected a little over 25,000
vehicles.
Sensor for airbags
The faulty airbag sensor wasn’t extremely common but increased the chance that such occupants will be harmed by an inflated airbag in the event of a collision. Under 15,000 total vehicles were recalled.
THE BEST USED SUVS UNDER $10,000
We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. Take a look - some of the best used SUVs have gone mostly overlooked or forgotten.
129 TSBs with major issues consisting of errors in the following areas:
- Suspension
- Brakes
- Hydraulic Power Connections
- Electrical Systems
- Anti Lock Traction Control
- Exhaust and Emissions
- Engine Failure
- Power Train
- Electrical Wiring
- Ignition
- Headlights, Taillights, and Foglights
- Airbags
- Side Mirror Visibility
- Body Latches and Handles
- Pressure Monitoring
- Seats
- Head Restraints
- Forward Collision Detection
- Lane Departure
- GPS Failure
- AC Unit
Nissan Quest years to avoid: 2007
- 386 Complains
- 1 Recall
- 99 TSBs
Common customer complaints from the 2007 model year according to Car Complaints
- Transmission
- General interior accessories
- Engine stalling and failure
- Fuel reading errors
- Chipping paint and exterior body components
- Wheels and hub connections
- Brake errors
- Steering
- Suspension
- Electrical system failure
- Safety features with seat belts and airbags
While the 2007 model didn’t face as many serious recalls as its similar 2004 model, many of the issues reported by customers made daily driving more difficult and sometimes downright dangerous.
THE BEST USED MINIVANS ON THE MARKET
When it comes to hauling a lot of people and cargo, the minivan is hard to beat. We’ve factored in reliability, affordability, and functionality to create this curated list of the 8 best used minivans on the market today.
The lone recall: Transverse bolt
It was the only recall for the 2007, with a loud rattling noise and noticeable vibration from a loose or missing bolt attachment. If the bolt was broken off fully, the driver may have difficulties steering and controlling the direction. Less than 2,000 total cars were subjected to an offline check at the assembly facility during manufacturing, during which a bolt in the front suspension assembly was removed. It’s likely that when this bolt was replaced on some of these cars, it wasn’t tightened to specification. While it wasn’t common, it still had serious safety implications.
99 TSBs with major issues consisting of errors in the following areas:
- Steering
- Hydraulic power assist
- Piping and connections
- Suspension, brakes, and anti-lock traction control
- Wheel speed sensor
- Air supply monitoring
- Engine, cooling and control model
- Emission control
- Fuel tank storage
- Powertrain
- Electrical and battery systems
- Ignition
- Headlights, fog lights, and taillights
- Air bags
- Tire pressure monitoring
- Forward collision avoidance and lane departure
- GPS failure
It should go without saying that not every vehicle from these model years will give you a poor experience, but they are more likely to make your life difficult. Availability will depend on your budget, location, and preference, so it’s always great to take it for a test drive and have additional inspections done.
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